News and Fishing Reports

For the first time in nearly twenty years Bonnie and I will not be moving back to Island Park on the first weekend of May. The new month was greeted on Thursday by a brisk storm that deposited a couple of inches of snow overnight. While it had melted away by noon here in St. Anthony, it was a different story in Island Park where any new snow adds to several feet that stubbornly refuses to leave. Having already shoveled more than enough snow for one winter, we accept what looks to be a two week delay in returning to our summer home. Hindered by cold temperatures through most of April, caddis and March Browns have erupted on the lower ‘Fork where water conditions continue to be low and clear. Combined with strong Baetis activity, the late arrival of spring hatches have sparked a serious surge in dry fly opportunity here in the flat land. With this in mind, I think we will be okay until spring finally arrives on the mountain. However, I am not too sure the same can be said for our friends up north who continue a close relationship with the snow shovel. Indeed, the winter of 2007/2008 will not soon be forgotten.
Rene Harrop